2024 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid marked a significant departure from its predecessors with its assertive and truck-like design. It was longer and wider, giving it a more muscular stance. The classic D-pillar taillights were modernized with three L shapes, and the blockier rear end complemented the bold front fascia. The Sport Touring trim, driven in deep Canyon River Blue, featured special Sport styling with black roof rails, mirrors, dual chrome exhaust finishers, and 19-inch black wheels. Inside, the CR-V Hybrid followed the design direction of the 2022 Civic and 2023 HR-V, with a premium feel, high-quality materials, and attractive contrast stitching.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a true crossover built on the TNGA-K platform, sharing its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models. It was larger than its competitors, with a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, offering a spacious interior. The design was conservative yet blockier, drawing inspiration from rugged vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with Softex synthetic leather or real leather upholstery. It featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats, and a large center console, making it a comfortable and well-built road-trip vehicle.

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid offered a simplified powertrain lineup, with a hybrid setup providing more power without compromising efficiency. It combined a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a two-motor hybrid-electric system, producing 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque. This made it the most powerful CR-V to date, with a towing capacity of up to 1,000 lbs. The CR-V Hybrid featured four drive modes, including a new Snow mode, and an updated Real Time AWD system. A "B" shifter position allowed for increased regenerative braking, enhancing fuel efficiency. The FWD CR-V Hybrid achieved 43 mpg city, 36 highway, and 40 combined.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options: a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 265 horsepower, a 2.5-liter hybrid with 245 combined net horsepower, and the Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 combined net horsepower. Both gas and hybrid engines were available with FWD and AWD, while the Hybrid Max was AWD only. The Grand Highlander excelled in acceleration, with the Hybrid Max achieving a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. It featured three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional modes for AWD-equipped models. The Grand Highlander's brakes were solid, and the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine provided adequate power.

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid's larger exterior translated to increased interior volume, with 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 76.5 with them folded. It offered more space than the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid. The Sport Touring model featured a hands-free power tailgate and wide-opening rear doors for easy access. Rear seat legroom increased to 41 inches, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The CR-V Hybrid had eight cupholders and best-in-class console storage.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. It offered 57.9 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander provided ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for adults in the third row. Its spacious interior and good outward visibility made it a practical choice for families.

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen display with physical volume and tuning knobs, while the Sport Touring trim had a 9-inch touchscreen. It included two USB-A and two USB-C ports, Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone climate control, and heated front seats. The Sport Touring trim added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system, and Honda's smart navigation system for optimized fuel efficiency.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation were available via a connected-services subscription. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, and streaming audio integration was offered. Sirius XM satellite radio and Wi-Fi Connect package were available with subscriptions.

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid included the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies as standard, with improved collision mitigation, road-departure mitigation, and lane-keeping assist systems. New safety features included traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, and low-speed braking control. The CR-V Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and five stars from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard. The Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.